Khan, Ausma Zehanat. Blackwater Falls. New York : Minotaur Books, 2022.

Khan, Ausma Zehanat. Blood Betrayal. New York : Minotaur Books, 2023.

I really love a mystery series that really captures a place and a moment, and the Blackwater Falls series does that well.

Inaya Rahman is a police officer with the Denver Police Community Response Unit. Their goal is to improve policing in areas with high immigrant and/or low-income populations in the greater Denver area. Right now, they are in Blackwater Falls, where immigrant girls have been disappearing and the sheriff can’t seem to be bothered to do anything about it. Inaya and her coworkers are pulled in when a Muslim girl is posed and hung on the doors of the local mosque.

Inaya has a complicated relationship with her supervisor, Lieutenant Waqas Seif, which adds to the tension of this story. Qas is raising his two brothers, both of whom are more devout than he is and who question his past dating history of non-Muslim women. Inaya left one police force because of bullying and religious harassment from fellow officers, and has chosen, for now, to forgo the hijab. This is a complicated decision for her – can she still consider herself devout without the hijab? She doesn’t know why Qas seems to be harder on her than her coworkers, and she tries not to care when he seems to kowtow to the sheriff instead of doing his job.

The mystery is great, but what really shines in this series is the struggle in Blackwater Falls between immigrants and newcomers and those who have lived there all of their lives. This plays out in communities all over our country, including Alamance County.

If community policing, race relations, small town frictions and murder sound like the perfect ingredients for a great book, give Blackwater Falls and Blood Betrayal a try!

Mary Beth A. is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.

Lee, Fonda. Untethered Sky. New York: Tor Publishing Group, 2023.

Want a short but punchy fantasy book with flying mythical creatures?

Inspired by Persian and Arabian folklore, Untethered Sky is an engaging fantasy novella which details the story of a young girl, Ester, whose mother and brother are lost to the brutality of a raging manticore—a deadly creature with the body of a lion and tail of a scorpion. In this world Fonda Lee creates, there is only one natural predator that can rival a manticore: the roc, a giant falcon featured in Persian myth. Ester then resolves herself to a life of hunting and killing manticores by training to become a ruhker, a highly skilled roc trainer in service of the king. 

Told from the first-person perspective of Ester, the story follows her as she slowly develops a trusting relationship with the adolescent roc she is tasked to train named Zahra and shifts from apprentice to a fully-fledged manticore hunter. The trusting—yet deeply tenuous—relationship between Ester and Zahra is the cornerstone and highlight of the novella. Lee plays heavily on this concept of the relationship between humankind and nature through the complex dynamic ruhkers have with their rocs. Ruhkers build an intensely personal attachment with their rocs, while also maintaining the understanding that these are wild creatures who cannot be owned or reciprocate such attachments. 

Untethered Sky is a sharply earnest coming-of-age fantasy story about finding one’s calling, the power of mythical beasts, and how our love for a wild animal cannot restrain them—yet we care for them anyway. It is available as a physical copy through Alamance County Public Libraries and as an audiobook via Hoopla. 

Sara D. is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library.

“Emmett,” by L.C. Rosen. Copyright 2023, Little, Brown and Company (264 pages, $18.99).

“The Absinthe Underground,” by Jamie Pacton. Copyright 2024, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc, (286 pages, $19.99).

“Gwen & Art Are Not in Love,” by Lex Croucher. Copyright 2023, New York: Wednesday Books, (407 pages, $20.00).

Fans of Jane Austen’s classic, Emma, and the 90’s take on it, Clueless, will enjoy Rosen’s updated take on this story. Add a dash of queer representation and you have a very modern and current take on Austen’s original work. We follow a teenage Emmett as he tries to navigate life as he helps his friends (by matchmaking and/or tutoring them) and learns what it really means to be “nice.” Something that all people can connect with as we navigate niceties without rewards.

With The Absinthe Underground you’ll get Moulin Rouge vibes meet the ever complicated world of Faeire all in this friends-to-lovers sapphic romantasy adventure. Sybil and Esme are making ends meet by stealing and selling rare posters in order to survive in their world. But when they’re caught by the subject of one poster they’re trying to sell, Maeve, they are offered a heist of a lifetime. To steal the crown jewels from the QUEEN OF WHAT for Maeve with the possibility of never needing to work again. While attempting this heist, Esme and Sybil learn more about themselves, and each other, and what it means to truly love someone in a world that does not love them.

And to round out our 90’s/00’s references is Croucher’s Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, which combines the classic A Knight’s Tale found family vibes with a new fan favorite – Heartstopper. It’s been centuries since the famed King Arthur’s reign, but now it’s his future descendant’s turn to take a crack at the story. Like in the original text, this Arthur is betrothed to a lady Gwen (Gwendoline in this text); but unlike the original text, they loathe each other and both have their romantic sights set on another person. But once Art and Gwen find out each other’s secrets (that Art likes kissing boys and that Gwen is in love with the only lady knight that Camelot has) they make a pact in order to carry on as is in their noble life, while also helping each other cover up they’re queer escapades.

All books and most movies mentioned here can be found with Alamance Public Libraries. Anything else can always be requested to purchase.

Kayleigh D. is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.

I’m not new to using Ancestry. I’ve subscribed in the past, and have had my DNA analyzed. However, I am pretty new to using the library version of Ancestry, and I’ve honestly been happy utilizing this edition to find new discoveries.

If you didn’t know, Ancestry Library Edition retains much of the core functionality that makes Ancestry so beloved. It provides access to an extensive range of historical records, including census data, immigration records, military databases, and vital statistics. I would say the main advantage to Ancestry Library Edition is its accessibility, as the library edition is free to use within the library. However, it is worth noting that the library edition lacks some personalization features that you may be familiar with in the subscription version like the ability to upload documents, pictures, and maintain your family tree.

For anyone working in a library setting or frequenting one, Ancestry Library Edition represents an excellent alternative to the full subscription, providing powerful tools for discovery and learning without the subscription fee.

To access Ancestry Library Edition, you must be in the library, using our computers or your own computer on our network. From our home page, choose Research and Learn/Online Resources, then scroll down or search for Ancestry Library Edition. We are happy to help you access this great resource!

Michael F. is a Library Assistant at May Memorial Library.

Kubo, Tite. Bleach / [story and art by Tite Kubo ; English adaptation, Lance Caselman ; translation, Joe Yamazaki]. San Francisco, CA : Viz, 2004-

Bleach is a classic manga that started its serialization in 2001 and lasted 15 years. It follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a 15-year-old high school student who can see ghosts. Ichigo’s introduction gives us everything we need to know about him. Introduced while beating up 4 delinquents who knocked over a vase of flowers marking the spot of where a young girl died. His bright orange hair, permanent scowl, and overly expressive gestures paired with his sincere beliefs on respecting shrines build a character with clear landmarks in a matter of seconds. Ichigo is always willing to throw down to protect those who can’t protect themselves and willing to risk life and limb to protect the sanctity of lost life.

               That night, a Soul Reaper clad in a black kimono named Rukia Kuchiki comes through the wall of Ichigo’s bedroom. She was tracking a Hollow, masked horrors that serve as the series’ first threat for our heroes. However, as she entered, Rukia loses all trace of her target’s spiritual pressure. Thinking she can’t be seen or heard, she begins planning her next move out loud only to be rudely interrupted by Ichigo. Rukia states that she is from the Soul Society and there to vanquish an evil spirit. Not falling for any nonsense uttered by a ghost, Ichigo doesn’t believe it for a second and starts to usher Rukia out. Annoyed, Rukia places a binding spell on Ichigo making him fall to the ground: immovable. Now that her audience has no choice, Rukia continues with her explanation laying out the role Soul Reapers play in helping good spirits pass on and the cleansing of bad spirits (Hollows). All illustrated with poorly drawn rabbits in marker. Rukia’s forced lesson is cut short by a blood curdling shriek from a Hollow; but something is wrong. It’s far too close for Rukia to not have noticed until.

               Still bound by Rukia’s spell, Ichigo tries to force his way out of the spell, his 2 sisters and his dad were in harm’s way. Rukia tells Ichigo that humans can’t break a Kidô spell so easily, but to her absolute shock, Ichigo breaks free and finds his father and one of his sisters, unconscious and wounded. He runs downstairs to find his other sister, Yuzu, in the clutches of a 2-story tall Hollow. In a desperate attempt to free her, Ichigo grabs a bat and springs headlong into the monstrous spirit, only to be knocked away like a fly. As the Hollow swings again on Ichigo, his sister still in hand, Rukia cuts the Hollow’s arm, forcing it to drop Yuzu in to Ichigo’s arms. Rukia warns him that the Hollow’s target is most likely him; since entering Ichigo’s room her sense of spiritual pressure while being around him has been clouded. A fact reinforced by her letting her guard down with a very much alive Hollow behind her poised to strike. She is struck, hitting a wall, battered and bruised. Ichigo stands up and provokes the Hollow, if he was its target then fine, at least he’ll protect the others. Rukia, knowing full well that the Hollow would not stop after eating Ichigo, jumps in and is critically bitten by the Hollow. It’s teeth as large as her forearm sinking deep. In a last-ditch effort to save the situation Rukia offers Ichigo a brutal decision: become a Soul Reaper in her place and gain the power to protect everyone or let the Hollow run rampant and consume all he loves. Without hesitation Ichigo chooses the former and becomes a substitute Soul Reaper, for the first of many times.

               Tite Kubo, the series’ author, weaves gripping action, touching emotional beats, and slapstick humor into his most well-known series. His world building from the start has stuck with me from the first time I saw the anime adaption to every time I return to his world of Soul Reapers. For anyone who loves classic manga or newbies to the genre. ACPL has the first 23 volumes and physical or digital movie options on the Hoopla app.

Ian A. is a Library Assistant at North Park Library.

“A Crane Among Wolves”: by June Hur. Read by Michelle H. Lee and Greg Chun. Unabridged. 10 hours and 4 minutes. Listening Library audio. Copyright 2024. Hardcover, $19.99; and Kindle, $11.99.

June Hur, a New York Times bestseller and Edgar Award-winning writer has made another hit with A Crane Among Wolves, a Korean-based historical drama with action, murder, mystery, and a little romance.

The year is 1506, in Joseon Era, Korea, seventeen-year-old Isuel, a pampered politician’s daughter, has had her life upended during the reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan when her older sister, Suyeon, is stolen for the king’s horrific appetites. Isuel is driven to get her back. Upon leaving home and traveling through forbidden places she makes a plan: capture the killer who is on the loose, then barter with the king for her sister’s freedom! While on this mission, Isuel is befriended by an innkeeper, an ex-investigator, and a prince.

When Isuel and Prince Daehyun find themselves on the same side of a rebellion they must figure out how to work together to survive. Their personalities clash like most enemies to lovers tropes, only to find that they must work together to finally realize they are a good pair. This is a slow-burn romance, that takes a backseat to the main storyline. Isuel and Prince Daehyun are put into peril several times against different adversaries helping to develop the characters into confident and capable protagonists that can defeat the tyrant king and stop a serial killer.  

 This book is great for the historical events that are smoothly blended into the plot, the well-developed characters, and the pace that keeps you interested throughout. The slow romance is a bonus that sits atop like a cherry! The book is narrated from Isuel and Prince Deahyun’s perspective really lending to the inner workings of each character’s mindset.

A Crane Among Wolves is sometimes heavy with some eye-popping moments of brutality that can turn you around, and several twists and turns that leave you wondering who you can trust, but the friendships built and lost comfort you into the final pages where heartbreak can be mended into wholeness once again.     

Alexis V. is the Branch Manager at North Park Library.

“The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society” by C.M. Waggoner. Copyright 2024, New York: Ace (335 pages, $19.00).

Content Warning: Murder, death, blood, grief, supernatural themes.

All of your 90’s and 00’s favorites – Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural – meets Mrs. Marple in Waggoner’s clever cozy-mystery novel.

All is great in Sherry Pinkwhistle’s quiet town. Sherry is thriving as a librarian, spending time with her friends, and having dinner with Alan (her beau) all while helping the police solve the murders happening in Winesap, NY. But when the murders start to get personal with Sherry, she realizes that something isn’t quite right and seeks help from her friends and the town’s new priest in order to solve the murders and the mystery of the supernatural that is tied up in all of it.

As someone who enjoys cozy mysteries, this was a fun twist to the genre since Waggoner added in the elements of the supernatural. She also writes the supernatural elements in a way that stays true with the character’s actual understanding of it – she doesn’t “Mary Sue” her characters into just knowing all and being without flaws, they struggle like real people would and that makes the supernatural element of this cozy mystery believable. I also appreciate that Waggoner has tied up the story but has also left it with potential for making this into a series.

Feel free to check this book out as well as similar titles to it through our website.

Kayleigh D. is Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.